Fantasy Football Midseason Awards 2025: MVP, Best Waiver Pickup, Biggest Bust

Considering the winners for The Sporting News' 2025 Fantasy Football Midseason Awards wasn't as wild a process as we thought; two or three of us agree on selections for many categories below.

However, we tried to recognize as many deserving names as possible for categories like Fantasy MVP, Best Value Pick, Best Waiver Wire Pickup, and the picks that have worked out best so far at each position.

Keep scrolling for our 2025 fantasy midseason awards for SN's top honorees, taken into consideration with stats through Week 9.

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Fantasy Football 2025 Midseason Awards

Fantasy Midseason Awards 2025 winners, explained

2025 Fantasy Midseason MVP

Jonathan Taylor,  RB, Colts

Taylor is carrying teams back in better than 2021 form with his massive scoring spike. - Vinnie Iyer

There's not a whole lot to say about Taylor that hasn't already been said. The guy is an absolute beast and is crushing this year for fantasy football. - Griffin Missant (Read Griffin's breakdown on Jonathan Taylor's historic fantasy season.)

He's revisiting 2021 and 2024 domination in this high-churning offense. Enjoy this absurd TD%. - Tim Heaney

Best Fantasy Value Pick

Drake Maye, QB, Patriots

Maye had promise because of his running but he's far exceeded expectations as an elite passing producer. - Vinnie Iyer

Maye went off draft boards as the QB16 back in August, he's the QB2 through Week 8 and is seemingly matchup resistant. - Griffin Missant

Javonte Williams, RB, Cowboys

I almost made this a clean sweep, but landing a lead back in an explosive offensive on pace for 20 TDs in the middle rounds can't be ignored. - Tim Heaney

Biggest Fantasy Bust 2025 Midseason

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars

Thomas has been a disappointment for how high he was taken as a WR1 but hopefull there's still time for him to get hot and emerge. - Vinnie Iyer

There is clearly time for BTJ to figure things out, but he went before other WR options like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, which undoubtedly stings. - Griffin Missant

Injuries, growing pains in the offense, and, most notably, leading the league in drops have left many regrets with this frequent Round 1/Round 2 turn pick. - Tim Heaney

👀 MORE: Follow our fantasy weekly rankings as you look to lock up your playoff berth.

Best Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickup Midseason 2025

Daniel Jones, QB, Colts

Every year, a QB becomes avialable who goes from a bench player to a regular starter based on floor and ceiling with Jones being a perfect fit in Indy. - Vinnie Iyer

Rico Dowdle, RB, Panthers

Those who were able to land Dowdle for his 2-week prime will never forget them; it's a shame that he might not find that workload every week, but he's still going to help a lot of fantasy teams moving forward. - Griffin Missant

Dowdle defied FLEXpectations by usurping Chuba Hubbard on the depth chart; how couldn't he after back-to-back, 200+-yard performances? - Tim Heaney

Best Fantasy QB Draft Pick

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

He's back to being the best in the game overalll with the old-school big passing and scoring games with even career-best running to boo. - Vinnie Iyer

Managers were way too low on the best QB in football; we're all paying the price for that right now. - Griffin Missant

Drake Maye, Patriots

I almost listed Maye as my Best Value Pick overall. People targeted him among the middle QB pool for his legs, but his arm has blossomed, making him the complete package. - Tim Heaney

Best Fantasy RB Draft Pick

Javonte Williams, Cowboys

He looks fully healthy and took advantage of taking over backield in Dallas, making managers forget all about his wasted post-knee injury time in Denver. - Vinnie Iyer

I'll give love to J.K. Dobbins, as well, but ditto from my Best Value Pick above: Williams has rediscovered his burst and vision while even flashing helpful volume as a receiver. He's RB5 through nine weeks. - Tim Heaney

James Cook III, Bills

Cook was the 13th RB taken off draft boards and was a Round 3 pick; if you managed to get him, there is no doubt the value is astronomical. - Griffin Missant

Best Fantasy WR Draft Pick

George Pickens, Cowboys

Pickens has been a consistent scoring deep threat and is showing he's more of a well-rounded receiver, working as both a No. 1 and No. 2 to either replace or supplement CeeDee Lamb. - Vinnie Iyer

Michael Pittman Jr., Colts

MPJ is disrespected because he is not a flashy WR, but he went off draft boards as the WR46 and is the WR7 through 8 weeks. - Griffin Missant

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks

Two other great picks on this list, but I'll give JSN props now that his versatility, Klint Kubiak's dangerous offense, and Sam Darnold's continued excellence look to cement him as a top-5 fantasy WR at season's end. - Tim Heaney

📒 PLAN: When is my fantasy league's trade deadline? | Fantasy Strength of Schedule ROS

Best Fantasy TE Draft Pick

Tyler Warren, Colts

He went a little later than Tucker Kraft and Jake Ferguson in most leagues because of concerns about the Colts' offense but his talent has huge impact in transforming their passing game. - Vinnie Iyer

The managers who passed on Brock Bowers and Trey McBride for Warren are extremely happy with their decision. - Griffin Missant

Tucker Kraft, Packers

The YAC and red-zone monster was the Packers' No. 1 target -- widely available around Pick 125 -- before his season-ending injury. - Tim Heaney

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Best Fantasy D/ST Draft Pick

Houston Texans

They were drafted in many leagues but they have ended up being consistent in producing in the pass rush for a slew of sloggy games. - Vinnie Iyer

New England Patriots

They were the 21st D/ST drafted back in August, and now the Pats are the top overall scoring fantasy D/ST heading into Week 9. - Griffin Missant

Indianapolis Colts

They were a fantasy draft afterthought but have capitalized on their weak division, while generating 10 INTs (3rd) and 26 sacks (T-6th). - Tim Heaney

© Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Best Fantasy Game Performance 2025 through Week 8

Jonathan Taylor, Week 8

Pick a week, most weeks: He just crushed it with his most dominant performance yet in Week 8 against the Titans with his multiple-TD scoring and there might be several more big-time games in the second half. - Vinnie Iyer

Much like my friend Vinnie mentioned, Taylor's game against the Titans in Week 8 was spectacular on so many levels. - Griffin Missant

That Week 8 against the lowly Titans -- 153 rushing yards, 3 total TDs -- won many matchups single-handedly. - Tim Heaney